Arrest in search for missing brothers
A woman has reportedly been arrested during the search for two missing Perth brothers in Mexico that failed to return to their Airbnb after a surfing trip.
Local Mexican media reported that authorities tracked the woman down after she turned on a mobile phone that belonged to one of the brothers.
Authorities also found drugs on on the woman when she was arrested, according to 9 News.
Earlier, the pair’s mother issued an urgent plea for help to find them.
Debra Robinson said she had not had contact from her two sons, Jake and Callum, since Saturday and appealed for help from the public on social media on Thursday.
“Reaching out to anyone who has seen my two sons,” Ms Robinson wrote on Facebook.
“They are travelling with another friend, an American citizen.
“They were due to book into an Airbnb in Rosarito after their camping weekend but they did not show up.”
Ms Robinson posted a photo which said her sons had gone missing around the Rosarito and Ensenada region of Baja California on Saturday morning.
Rosarito is a coastal city in Baja California, Mexico and is about an hour’s drive north of Ensenada and a 45 minute drive south of the US city of San Diego.
It said they were driving a Chevrolet Colorado with the Californian number plate 70189W1.
Ms Robinson said there was a medical concern, given Callum is a type one diabetic.
She asked for anyone who had seen her sons or knew their whereabouts to contact her.
Lacrosse Australia issued a statement on social media expressing its concern over the whereabouts of Jake, Callum and their friend, Jack Carter Rhoad.
It described Callum as an “Australian lacrosse star”.
“We urge the Australian lacrosse community and our global lacrosse family to continue sharing the post from Callum’s friends and family (located on the LA Facebook and Instagram story) in the hope that Callum, Jake and Jack are found safe and sound,” it said.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the Callum, Jake and Jack during this incredibly stressful time.”
WA Premier Roger Cook said the situation was “very worrying”.
“When we do send our young men and women overseas to enjoy that adventure holiday, they invite an element of risk and this is really quite distressing,” he told reporters.
“I understand that one of the individuals has a medical condition that would need ongoing care, so I share concerns of all Western Australians in terms of their welfare.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed they were assisting the family.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of two Australians reported missing in Mexico,” a spokesperson said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
